Preliminary reports of the Gilbert operations
indicate that our landing forces suffered the following approximate casualties:

(a) At
Tarawa—killed in action, 1026; wounded in action, 2557.

(b) At
Makin—killed in action, 65 ; wounded in action, 121.

(c) At
Abemama—killed in action, 1; wounded in action, 2.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 487, DECEMBER 2, 1943

Central Pacific (all dates are east longitude).

1. The USS Liscome Bay (an escort carrier) was
sunk as the result of being torpedoed by a submarine on November 24, 1943, in
the Gilbert Islands area. This is the only ship lost in the Gilbert Islands
operation.

2. The next of kin of casualties aboard the Liscome
Bay will be notified as soon as possible.

88

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 488, DECEMBER 2, 1943

1. The U. S. Submarine Wahoo is overdue and
must be presumed to be lost.

2. The next of kin of personnel in the Wahoo
have been so informed.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 181, DECEMBER 2, 1943

Our aircraft continue raid and search operations in
the Marshalls.

On the morning of 30 November, (West Longitude Date),
Seventh AAF Liberators which bombed the Taroa airdrome were intercepted by 35
Zeros. Seven or more Zeros were shot down, at least four others were damaged.
All of our planes returned, but several were damaged. Two men were injured.

A Navy Liberator of Fleet Air Wing Two which was attacked
by six Zeros near Mille on 30 November while on a search mission shot down one
Zero, probably destroyed another and probably damaged two others.

On the evening of 29 November two of our destroyers
in the Gilberts area repelled a prolonged attack by enemy torpedo planes. Three
enemy planes were destroyed, two others were probably shot down. Neither
destroyer was damaged.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 184, DECEMBER 5, 1943

Nine enemy planes bombed the Tarawa Airdrome on the
night of Decem­ber 3 (West Longitude Date), causing minor damage. Three men
were slightly wounded. On the morning of December 4 an enemy plane dropped four
small bombs at Makin, causing no damage.

A Navy search Liberator, of Fleet Air Wing 2, was
attacked near Mille on December 3 by seven Zeros. Our plane destroyed one Zero,
damaged two others.

On December 2 a South Pacific search Liberator bombed
installations on Kapingamarangi Island, starting several fires.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 186, DECEMBER 5, 1943

A force of Seventh Army Air Force Liberators bombed
Mille Atoll on December 4 (West Longitude Date). 50 tons of bombs were dropped,
starting several fires and destroying one medium bomber on the ground. No enemy
air interception was encountered. All of our planes returned, though five were
slightly damaged by antiaircraft fire. Three men were slightly wounded.

Another group of Liberators of the Seventh Army Air
Force raided Nauru on December 4. An oil dump was set afire. There was no air
interception, although three enemy planes departed the area as our planes
arrived. All of our aircraft returned. One was slightly damaged by antiaircraft
fire.

89

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 489, DECEMBER 6, 1943

Pacific and Far East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of
eleven enemy vessels in operations against the enemy in waters of these areas,
as follows:

Sunk:

1 large tanker

9 medium freighters

1 small freighter

2. These actions have not been announced in any
previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqué.

2. Due to the necessity for radio silence, details
are not yet available.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 23, DECEMBER 8, 1943

1. Our carrier task forces which attacked enemy
installations on Kwajalein and Wotje Atolls on December 4, 1943, (West
Longitude Date) destroyed 72 planes in the air, strafed and burned an
undetermined number of medium bombers on the ground, and destroyed or damaged
various ground installations on Kwajalein, Ebeye, Roi and Wotje Islands.

2. At Kwajalein they sank two light cruisers, one
oiler and three cargo transports and damaged one troop transport and two cargo
transports.

3. At Wotje one cargo transport was damaged.

4. Our forces, under command of Rear Admiral Charles
A. Pownall, USN, successfully fought off vigorous prolonged aerial and torpedo
and bombing attacks. Of one group of seven torpedo planes, six were destroyed
by antiaircraft fire.

1. The enemy continues nuisance air raids against our
installations in the Gilberts. On the night of December 6 (West Longitude Date)
a plane dropped four bombs at Makin, which landed harmlessly in the lagoon. On
the night of December 5, enemy planes dropped eight bombs near Betio Island.
Only one bomb landed near our installations, causing minor injuries to
personnel.

CINCPAC COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 24, DECEMBER 9, 1943

1. Strong forces of the Pacific Fleet attacked Nauru
Island with carrier aircraft and ship bombardment on December 8 (West Longitude
Date)­Further details are not now available.

90

2. Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force, which
raided the Taroa airdrome installations on the morning of December 7, were
intercepted over Maloelap by eight enemy fighters. One fighter was shot down.
Our planes suffered only slight damage. A Liberator of this force also bombed
Mille during the same sortie.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 189, DECEMBER 9, 1943

Navy search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two made the
following raids in the southern Marshalls on 8 December 1943 (West Longitude
Date). A Ventura bomber strafed installations at Mille in the face of heavy
automatic weapon fire without damage to our plane. Three Zeros attacked one of
our Liberators near Mille, with no damage; another Liberator raided and strafed
base facilities at Jaluit, sinking a patrol boat and probably sinking a medium
freighter and two small vessels.

JOINT
STATEMENT, DECEMBER 9, 1943

The following joint Anglo‑American statement on
submarine and anti­submarine operations is issued under the authority of the
President and the Prime Minister:

Anti U‑Boat
operations in November have been notable, for the enemy has achieved little for
the great effort he has exerted. The number of merchant vessels sunk by U‑Boats
in November is less than in any other month since May, 1940.

By means of aircraft
operating from Azores we have been able to improve protection to our convoys
and to diminish area in which enemy U‑Boats were free from attack by our
forces.

The enemy has used long
range aircraft to assist in concentrating U‑Boats on our convoy routes
but in spite of this our escort and counter­attack has been effective.

The caution of the enemy
U‑Boats has lessened the number of op­portunities presented to our forces
for striking at them. Nevertheless, the number of U‑Boats sunk in
November has again exceeded the number of their victims.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 190, DECEMBER 10, 1943

1. Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force made late
afternoon raids on enemy installations at Jaluit and Mille on December 8 (West
Longitude Date). More than 40 tons of bombs were dropped in the target area at
Jaluit. There was no enemy interception and none of our aircraft was damaged by
antiaircraft fire. At Mille our planes were intercepted by 10 Zeros, two of
which were probably shot down. Several of our planes received minor damage. One
man was wounded.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 191

Liberator bombers of the Army 7th Air Force which
dropped more than 15 tons of bombs on Mille on 9 December (West Longitude Date)
were at­tacked by approximately 20 Zeros. Four Zeros were shot down, three were

91

probably shot down, and one was damaged. We suffered only
slight material damage with a few men wounded. Two Zeros dropped six aerial
bombs at our planes without results.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 192, DECEMBER 12, 1943

Our battleships and carriers which bombarded Nauru
Island on Decem­ber 8 (West Longitude Date) started large fires throughout the
target area and destroyed nine planes on the ground and one in the air. We lost
two aircraft. One of our destroyers received one hit from enemy shore batteries
suffering minor damage. A Navy search Liberator of Fleet Air Wing Two strafed a
medium cargo transport and its escorting patrol vessel near Jaluit on December
10.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 193, DECEMBER 12, 1943

Two Navy dive bombers collided on 7 December while engaged
in training exercises near Keilii Point, Maui. Pilots of both planes parachuted
safely, but their radiomen were killed.

A bomb from one of the two planes in collision fell
and detonated among a force of Marines participating in field maneuvers nearby.
Twenty Marines were killed and twenty‑nine were injured. A court of
inquiry is investigating circumstances of the casualty.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 194, DECEMBER 14, 1943

Army heavy bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force
attacked Imeiji Island, Jaluit Atoll, on December 12 (West Longitude Date),
dropping ap­proximately 50 tons of bombs on shore installations and on a cargo
transport in the lagoon.

Damage to our planes from antiaircraft fire was
negligible. None of our personnel was wounded.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 195, DECEMBER 14, 1943

Army heavy bombers of the 7th Army Air Force raided
enemy installa­tions on Wotje atoll on 13 December (West Longitude Date). One
of our planes was damaged by antiaircraft fire. There were no personnel casualties.

Two Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air Wing Two made
a low altitude attack on Jaluit at dusk on 12 December. One pilot was wounded
and both planes suffered some damage from machine gun fire.

The enemy made small night raids at Tarawa on 11 and
12 December. There were no casualties nor damage to our installations.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 196, DECEMBER 16, 1943

Army heavy bombers of the Army 7th Air Force which
bombed the enemy airdrome on Taroa Island on 14 December (West Longitude Date)
started fires in the hangar area. They were intercepted by 15 fighters. One
fighter was shot down, four were probably shot down and five were damaged.

92

Three of our planes were slightly damaged. Enemy bombers
made nuisance raids at Tarawa on 12 and 13 December, and at Makin on 13 and 14
De­cember. No damage resulted from the Tarawa attacks. Four men were wounded at
Makin by a bomb dropped in the raid on 13 December.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 197, DECEMBER 16, 1943

Heavy bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force struck
Taroa and Wotje, in the Marshalls, on December 15 (West Longitude Date)
dropping more than 40 tons of bombs, damaging installations on both islands.

At Taroa, where damage was inflicted on buildings and
storage spaces our bombers were attacked by 30 enemy fighters. Two Zeros were
shot down, eight were probably shot down, and eight others were damaged. One of
our planes was lost and several others suffered damage. One crew member of
another of our planes was killed.

At Wotje, where fires were observed as result of the
bombings, none of our planes was damaged.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 490, DECEMBER 17, 1943

Pacific and Far East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of
eight enemy vessels in operations against the enemy in waters of these areas,
as follows

Sunk:

2 large transports

2 large tankers

3 medium freighters

1 small freighter

2. These actions have not been announced in any
previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqué.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 198, DECEMBER 17, 1943

Army Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force raided
Wotje at dusk on December 15 (West Longitude Date) scoring numerous hits on
airdrome installations.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 200, DECEMBER 18, 1943

The Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet, has
received the following message from Sir Philip Mitchell, Governor of Fiji and
British High Com­missioner for the Western Pacific:

"May I express to
you the warmest congratulations and most sincere gratitude of myself and people
of Fiji and High Commission territories and especially of the Gilbert Islands
for brilliantly planned and heroically executed operation for capture of
Gilbert Islands. After personal visit to Betio I can understand the grimness of
the task, the masterly way your bold blow was struck and the incomparable
courage of the men who struck it. We Join you in mourning for the brave men who
died. We salute a great feat of arms."

93

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 202, DECEMBER 19, 1943

Army fighters and light bombers of the Seventh Army
Air Force which attacked Mille during the morning of December 18 (West
Longitude Date) destroyed six Zeroes on the ground and damaged three others.

Our planes encountered no air opposition. Two of our
planes suffered minor damage from antiaircraft fire.

On December 16, Navy search Liberators of Fleet Air
Wing Two strafed a small vessel southeast of Kwajalein and attacked a ship and
shore installa­tions at Ebon Atoll. On December 17, a Navy Liberator while on a
search mission bombed three small transports near Jaluit, two of which were pos­sibly
sunk.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 203, DECEMBER 20, 1943

On the afternoon of December 18 (West Longitude Date)
Army planes of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked airdrome installations at
Mine Atoll and were intercepted by four Jap fighters. One Jap fighter was shot
down, another was possibly destroyed. Several of our planes were damaged.

During the morning of December 19, Army fighters
bombed and strafed Mille and destroyed one medium bomber and two Zeros on the
ground. Eight Zeros attacked our formation. One was shot down. Heavy machine
gun fire was encountered. We lost two planes. Army heavy bombers again raided
Mille at noon on December 19, dropping about 30 tons of bombs. An intercept­ing
fighter slightly damaged one of our aircraft.

During the night of December 18, a Catalina search
plane of Fleet Wing Two bombed and set afire large transport at Kwajalein.
Enemy planes dropped three bombs at Tarawa before dawn on December 18, causing
no damage.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 204, DECEMBER 21, 1943

Army heavy bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force,
which attacked enemy installations on Maloelap Atoll on December 19 (West
Longitude Date), were intercepted by 25 Japanese fighters. Seven of the enemy
fighters were probably destroyed and five others were damaged. Two of our
planes were damaged. Three men were wounded.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 205, DECEMBER 21, 1943

Heavy bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked
Taroa on De­cember 20 (West Longitude Date) with about 25 tons of bombs,
causing many fires and explosions in hangar and storage areas. Our aircraft
were attacked by 30 Zeros. Four enemy fighters were shot down; five others were
probably destroyed. Three of our planes were shot down, others received minor
damage from antiaircraft fire and intercepting fighters.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 207, DECEMBER 23, 1943

A force of Navy Hellcat fighters and Army and Navy
Dauntless light bombers bombed and strafed enemy installations on Imieji
Island, Jaluit Atoll, at noon on December 20 (West Longitude Date). A medium
cargo ship and one small vessel in the lagoon were damaged. Heavy antiaircraft
fire was encountered; we lost one plane.

94

A group of Liberators from the Seventh Army Air Force
and Fleet Air Wing Two bombed Kwajalein and Roi Islands, Kwajalein Atoll, on
the afternoon of December 21. Our planes were intercepted by nine Japanese
fighters, but sustained no damage. More than 20 enemy ships were seen in the
lagoon.

On the early morning of December 20, two enemy planes
dropped bombs on Tarawa from high altitude. One of our planes on the ground was
slightly damaged.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 491, DECEMBER 24, 1943

1. The U. S. Submarine Grayling is overdue and
must be presumed to be lost.

2. The next of kin of personnel in the Grayling
have been so informed.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 209, DECEMBER 24, 1943

Heavy bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force attacked
Kwajalein Island on the morning of December 23 (West Longitude Date). Island
Installa­tions were damaged and two cargo vessels anchored offshore were
bombed. No enemy fighters were encountered. Anti‑aircraft fire did not
damage our aircraft. On the afternoon of December 21 Army light bombers
escorted by Army and Navy fighters struck shipping and shore installations at
Mille. Several enemy fighters were encountered, one of which was shot down, an­other
possibly destroyed and a third damaged. Three of our planes were slightly
damaged. On the morning of December 23, Seventh Army Air Force fighters and
light bombers attacked Mille. Five Zeros attacked our aircraft. Two were shot
down. All of our planes returned.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 210, DECEMBER 25, 1943

Navy medium bombers of Fleet Air Wing Two made a low
altitude attack on Nauru at dusk on Christmas Eve (East Longitude Date) setting
Installa­tions on fire. One of our planes is missing.

Army Liberators of the Seventh AAF bombed Wotje on
the evening of December 22 (West Longitude Date). Our planes were attacked by
35 enemy fighters, three of which were destroyed, one was probably shot down
and six were damaged. Our casualties were one killed and two wounded.

Enemy bombers made five raids on Tarawa during the
night of December 22 and 23, causing minor damage.

Enemy light bombers made three nuisance raids at
Makin, two at night one during the day, wounding eight men. Two enemy planes
were shot down by an intercepting Army fighter.

On the morning of December 24, 15 enemy fighters
dropped bombs from high altitude on Makin, causing no damage.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 211, DECEMBER 26, 1943

Army heavy bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force
attacked Wotje on December 24 (West Longitude Date). Several fires started.

Army light bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force,
escorted by Army Airacobras, raided Mille on December 25. Two of our bombers
were slightly damaged.

95

A Navy search Liberator of Fleet Air Wing Two made a
low altitude attack on two small transports near Kwajalein on December 24,
probably sinking one transport. Another Navy Liberator, while on a search
mission near Taroa on December 24, beat off twelve intercepting Zeros, without
re­ceiving damage.

N. D. COMMUNIQUÉ NO. 492, DECEMBER 28, 1943

Pacific and Far East.

1. U. S. submarines have reported the sinking of
twelve enemy vessels in operations against the enemy in waters of these areas,
as follows

Sunk:

1 destroyer.

2 large tankers.

1 large freighter.

2 medium transports.

6 medium freighters.

2. These actions have not been announced in any
previous Navy Depart­ment Communiqué.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 213, DECEMBER 28, 1943

Army Liberators of the Seventh Army Air Force which
dropped more than 50 tons of bombs on Wotje on December 26 (West Longitude
Date) were attacked by six Zeros. One Zero was destroyed. We lost two planes.

A low altitude attack was made against Jaluit and
shipping there on December 26 by Ventura bombers and Hellcat fighters of Fleet
Air Wing Two. All of our planes returned.

CINCPAC RELEASE NO. 214, DECEMBER 29, 1943

Navy medium bombers of Fleet Air Wing Two which
raided Nauru on the morning of December 29 (West Longitude Date) destroyed an
ammunition dump and started several fires. Several of our planes suffered minor
damage. One Navy Liberator while on a search mission in the Marshalls on
December 27 damaged a tanker.

CINCPAC PRESS RELEASE NO. 215, DECEMBER 30, 1943

Army heavy bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force
attacked Maloelap on December 28 (West Longitude Date). Our planes encountered
heavy op­position by Zeros. Two Zeros were destroyed, 10 were probably destroyed.
Two of our planes were shot down.

Army light bombers of the Seventh Army Air Force
escorted by Army Airacobras made low altitude attacks on Mille on December 28.
Several of our planes received minor damage. Navy search Liberators of Fleet
Air Wing Two were intercepted near Kwajalein on December 28 by 10 enemy
fighters. Three planes were destroyed. We lost one plane.

Enemy bombers made high altitude evening nuisance
raids at Tarawa on December 27 and again on December 28, causing no damage.